5 Things To Help You Deal With Them Baby Blues

Unlike what is ‘expected’, and reinforced through the popular media, giving birth may not always leave you feeling like you are on cloud nine.

Pregnancy and birth giving can be a rather different experience for different people. It is not uncommon to have phases of anxiety or depression soon after you give birth.

If you’ve been feeling low, depressed, anxious, or all of the above, and are wondering what is ‘wrong with you’, and that you ‘shouldn’t’ be feeling that way, well, stop right there. Because, 75-80% of new mommies go through this. And here are some things that are sure to help you deal with them baby blues!

Understand what you are going through – The first step towards the solution of any problem is understanding the problem itself. This article explains why you may go through bouts of depression post delivery.

“Levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are sky-high during pregnancy—higher than they will ever be at any other time in a woman's life—and after delivery of the baby and the placenta, they plummet. This neurobiological process triggers the baby blues.” Now that does make perfect sense, so relax, it isn’t your fault.

Accept the phase - It is obvious that you may feel confused and anxious, and unsure of why you’re feeling how you’re feeling. However, understand that you are not the only mother who feels this way, and there is nothing “abnormal” about how you feel. Understand that you are not responsible for how you’re feeling, so don’t blame yourself.

There is a constant societal pressure to appear as blissful and happy after having given birth to a child. It is the pressure to live up to this image that makes post-partum depression extremely difficult to deal with.

As explained above, understand that you are not the “cause” for it. Your body, and your mind is going through a phase, which is perfectly normal. Accept it, and let it pass.

Don’t forget about yourself – Create time for yourself, despite your understandably crazy schedule. Let your partner/ family take care of the baby every now and then so that you may decompress.

Withdraw and spend time with yourself at least for a few hours every week. Eat healthy, rest well and it is extremely important to maintain a regular exercise routine. It might be a little tough, but this is something that will bring about the much needed balance into your life, and help you battle those blues.

Focus on the amazing things – When you feel like you are being pulled down by the sudden pangs of depression or anxiety, switch off those thoughts and turn on your happy thoughts instead. Think about all the amazing things you have to be grateful for. Think about your beautiful baby and the miracle of life you have created. Focus on the amazing things, and then everything else will seem trivial!

Don’t be ashamed to seek help – Never feel shy, or judged to reached out for help when you think it’s becoming more than you can handle. Reach out to your family, friends, or visit a psychiatrist and speak up about how you feel. Remember that different people have different thresholds, and different coping mechanisms which are not to be compared.

Remember to be gentle with yourself. You only just became a mommy, and like every other role you’ve played so far, you will do a great job. Allow yourself to learn, and to be. Because, “Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary—it’s an act of infinite optimism.” - Gilda Radner